This week, Mignon Clyburn and Meredith Atwell Baker went
before the Senate Commerce Committee for their confirmation hearing to
fill the two remaining vacancies on the Federal Communications
Commission.
Clyburn
currently serves as a member of South Carolina's public
service commission and Baker led the Commerce Department's National
Telecommunications and Information Administration under President George W.
Bush.
If confirmed, they will join FCC Chair Julius
Genachowski, Commissioner Michael Copps and Commissioner Robert McDowell in
crafting a national broadband plan due to Congress in
February.
Late Thursday, the Senate confirmed Julius Genachowski as the new FCC Chair and Robert McDowell for an additional term as FCC Commissioner. Hopefully, both will be in place soon along with two more additions to the Commission - Mignon Clyburn and Meredith Atwell Baker. Both nominations were sent to the Senate Thursday. Read Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter's statement
praising the Senate confirmations here.
Julius' nomination to head the FCC is a perfect fit to meet
the challenges and opportunities that will unfold in the communications
industry over the next several years.
His background, not only in public service but in the private sector,
has equipped him well to determine policies that serve consumers, stimulate
industry growth and innovation, and address the continued expansion of wireless
and broadband capabilities throughout the nation.
Selecting
a leader of Genachowski's caliber signals the new administration's recognition
of the importance of communications to America's economic development and
ability to compete in the global marketplace.
So here's a suggestion to the administration's incoming CTOs and CIOs that can address both worthy goals simultaneously: Start implementing the kinds of technology-based constituent outreach and services at home that other nations have successfully used for years.
Start with wireless. Several governments and political parties around the world have successfully adopted mobile technologies to deliver important services and improve constituent communication. Their success should serve as models for the Obama-Biden administration. Here's a sampling:
In South Africa, the Democratic Government leader launched an SMS-based service to keep in contact with voters, allowing them to vote on issues and ask questions in real time to government leaders.
Using two-way SMS communication, the New Zealand Labour Party encourages constituents to question Members of Parliament wirelessly. Answers are sent via SMS and posted online.
The government of Singapore offers numerous mobile features through its "e-citizen" campaign including SMS alerts about passport renewal, tax renewal, election information, and real time crime alerts.
Earlier this week, the Associated Press reported about using mobile phones to keep Americans informed about the spread of the flu, both through a WAP-based mobile site, and through opt-in SMS alerts offering information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Of course SMS technology does have its limitations. It can't be relied upon to deliver time-sensitive alerts to a large number of phones simultaneously, and the traffic volumes created by widespread adoption of SMS messaging mean that new texting technologies will be needed before new messaging applications can be deployed. The Federal Communications Commission has been working with the public safety community and the wireless industry to develop a new system, using a new technology, for reliably sending emergency alerts from federal, state, and local government to wireless devices.
With so many opportunities to embrace wireless technologies, the Obama-Biden administration should look to these and other successful programs around the world as models for similar programs in the U.S.
As many futurists know, I was covering the WCA conference in DC this week. Accordingly, I had the opportunity to hear a FCC Roundtable with the wireless staffers for the respective FCC Commissioners. It was very informative.
Fred Campbell (Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau) kicked off the discussion and mentioned his priority to successfully get the D Block auctioned by the end of the DTV transition. Obviously, there are issues regarding the conditions that are a part of holding that license but getting the D Block done was a sentiment shared by all the participants. Mr. Campbell also mentioned his goal of making sure that the AWS III (2155-2175MHz) spectrum got allocated in 9 months (as specified in the NPRM). He did not elaborate on whether that spectrum would be licensed or unlicensed spectrum.
Bruce Gottlieb (Commissioner Copps) mentioned his continued interest in carriers opening up their networks and believes that this move will help unleash more innovations in the wireless sector. He is pleased with the Commission's efforts to get spectrum out in the market but believes the results are a "mixed bag." For instance, he is concerned with excessive concentration of wireless spectrum and is interested in seeing some wholesaling requirements on future allocations.
Renee Roland Crittendon (Commissioner Adelstein) believes oversight of the DTV transition is important and will be watching related education efforts to inform folks of the transition. Ms. Crittendon supports future wholesaling conditions and emphasized that tradeoffs are a part of these policy decisions. She also is interested in making sure spectrum is not sitting fallow and is made available for service providers.
Wayne Leighton (Commissioner Tate) stated that Ms. Tate is passionate about broadband deployment as well as making sure the DTV transition is successful. With regard to wireless broadband deployment, Mr. Leighton is concerned that the weakening capital markets could be an impediment to some of those efforts.
Overall, a very informative panel and all the representatives were excited about our mobile future...
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